Awake intubation with C-MAC video-stylet versus fibreoptic bronchoscope in predicted difficult airway patients: Comparative randomised study

Abstract

Background This work was conducted to examine the efficiency of using C-MAC video stylet (VS) in awake intubation by comparing it to the standard method using fibreoptic bronchoscope (FOB).Patients and methodology Eighty patients were included in this study and divided into two groups according to the device used for awake intubation: VS group and FOB group.Results The intubation time ranged between 25 and 245 s with median of 45.5 s in VS group, while in the FOB group, it ranged between 36 and 279 s with median of 80 s with P value < 0.001. Successful intubation was done in 36 patients (90%) on the first attempt in VS group versus 29 patients in the FOB group (72.5%) with P value 0.04. As regard SpO2, insignificant difference was found all through measurement times. Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure showed significant increase in FBO group more than in CMAC-VS group at 1 and 5 min after intubation with P value < 0.001.Conclusion Using the C-MAC VS in awake intubation proved to be easier and more successful than using the FOB.

Keywords

• C-MAC video stylet
• fibreoptic bronchoscope
• awake intubation
• difficult airway
• oxygen saturation